Topic: schoeps cmd digital mic body?

[DSatz]

> the major benefit of the digital mics is they have a much lower noise floor.

?? I don't see that in Schoeps' specifications; rather, I seem to see the opposite.

- CMD 2U with MK 2S: 27 dB equivalent noise (CCIR weighting, quasi-peak)
- CMC 6 with same capsule: 24 dB equivalent noise, same measurement conditions.

The A-weighted numbers are 10 - 12 dB lower as usual (and fairly meaningless as usual).

[John Willett]

> the major benefit of the digital mics is they have a much lower noise floor.

?? I don't see that in Schoeps' specifications; rather, I seem to see the opposite.

The lower noise floor comes from the fact that you do not have to allow headroom in the mic. pre. or in the A/D converter.

Neumann suggest a 25dB improvement in the presentations I have seen.


But AES42 digoital mics are moving forward.

Neumann were the first, Schoeps the second and Sennheiser the third (AES42 module for the MKH 8000 series should be available early next year) - and RME have an 8-channel AES42 interface due at the end of this year.

[DSatz]

John, just as a sanity check do you really believe that the noise floor of (say) a KM 184 can be reduced 25 dB in the digital version of the mike? That would result in a negative value for its equivalent noise specification. It would also imply that the circuitry of the analog KM 184 is contributing a very large amount of unnecessary self-noise, and I simply don't believe that that is true.

--best regards

[ghellquist]

That would result in a negative value for its equivalent noise specification.

Actually, negative self noise is not impossible, there are a few very special mics with that. Makes sense when 0dB is defined as a specific sound level, below that and you get negative levels.
http://www.bksv.com/3103.asp?Types=:4179:

I cannot believe that the KM184 can be diminished 25 dB.

G.